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India's one and only aptitude guruThu, 09 Aug 2018 11:32:26 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8The Secret to Solving Inferential Questions in MBA entranceshttps://www.gpkafunda.com/the-secret-to-solving-inferential-questions/
https://www.gpkafunda.com/the-secret-to-solving-inferential-questions/#commentsTue, 15 Nov 2016 09:00:08 +0000http://careerlauncher.com/gpspeaks/?p=585Most students preparing for CAT, XAT or MBA entrances struggle with inferential questions. The logic of inferential questions is helpful in solving questions of para completion which is an important component of VRC section of CAT. From the questions that are pouring in about inferential based questions, I think I have my work cut out. I shall address inferential based questions in two parts.

To be good in inferential based questions in MBA entrances, we will have to be good in Critical Reasoning. To be good in Critical Reasoning, we must be good in basics logic. Let me just address Critical Reasoning (CR) here.

Steps to handle CR:
1. Identify Arguments
2. Evaluate Options

Here, we will look at a few CR & IR questions in MBA entrance exams and look at how this works: I will try and give a detailed explanation so that you understand the logic better.

Insect Infestations in certain cotton growing regions of the world have caused dramatic increases of demand of cotton on the world market. Knowing that cotton plants mature quickly, many soybean growers in Ortovia plan to cease growing soybeans, the price of which has long been stable and to begin raising cotton instead, thereby taking advantage of the high price of cotton to increase their income significantly over the next several years.

Which of the following, if true, most calls into question the reasoning on which the plan is based? That means, which of the following WEAKENS the argument?

Step 1 is to identify the argument.

The argument is as follows:
1. Insect infestations increased in cotton growing world, (production decreased), demand increased
2. Soybeans growers ceased growing soybeans and started growing cotton
3. Therefore, they will be able to increase their income significantly for the next several years

The assumption is that if income has to increase significantly for the next several years, then it must be true that the demand should remain high for the next several years.

This kind of argument is called a causal argument – Cause and effect.

• Cause : Insect Infestations.
• Effect: Increase in Demand.

In this case, for the effect to stay, cause has to stay!

Step 2 : Evaluating Options

1) The cost of raising soybeans has increased significantly over the past several years and is expected to continue to climb.

RELEVANT – Yes, but it strengthens the argument! That if the cost of soybeans keeps on climbing, it makes bloody sense to shift to cotton. Since we have to identify the option that weakens the argument, this one is INCORRECT

2) Tests of a newly developed, inexpensive pesticide have shown it to be both environmentally safe and effective against the insects that have infected the cotton crops.

RELEVANT – If option 2 is true, then people will use pesticide. The option is giving all the reasons as to why people will use it – (a) it is effective (b) it is environmentally safe (c) it is inexpensive.

Insect Infestations will decrease; production will increase; demand will decrease! ‘Cause’ is stopped. ‘Effect’ will stop.

Remember, the argument is based on the assumption – the demand should remain high for the next several years.

This WEAKENS the argument, in fact it could destroy the argument. Let us check the other options to be sure that this is the best answer.

3) In the past several years, there has been no sharp increase in the demand for cotton, and for goods made out of cotton.

IRRELEVANT – The argument is NOT concerned about demand of cotton in the past. Hence, INCORRECT.

4) Many consumers consider cotton cloth a necessity rather than a luxury and would be willing to pay significantly higher prices for cotton goods than they are currently paying

This STRENGTHENS the argument, that since people are willing to pay, therefore increasing the income. Hence, INCORRECT.

5) The species of insect that has infested the cotton plants has never been known to infest soybean plants

IRRELEVANT. One might think that if the soybean is not infested by the insect, then it does not make sense to shift to cotton. The argument is based on the demand of the cotton. The shifting from soybean to cotton is based on the EFFECT – the increase in demand and NOT based on the CAUSE – the infestation.
Hence, INCORRECT.

Answer – Option (2)

Question:Although fullerenes – spherical molecules made entirely of carbon – were first found in the laboratory, they have since been found in nature, formed in fissures of the rare mineral shungite. Since laboratory synthesis of fullerenes requires distinctive conditions of temperature and pressure, this discovery should give geologists a test case for evaluating hypothesis about the state of the Earth’s crust at the time these naturally occurring fullerenes were formed.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the argument? That means, which of the following WEAKENS the argument?

Step 1 : Identifying the argument.

The argument goes something like this:

1. Fullerenes synthesised in laboratory requires distinctive pressure and temperature
2. Fullerenes are now found in nature
3. Therefore, it is possible to evaluate the state of Earth’s crust at the time naturally occurring fullerenes were formed.

The above argument is an example of argument from analogy. Note that for the conclusion to be true, the Fullerenes synthesised in laboratory must be the ‘same’ as the naturally occurring fullerenes. The knowledge from laboratory synthesised fullerenes is being used to understand the condition of the formation of naturally occurring fullerenes. If the analogy is wrong, that is to say, if those two fullerenes are different, the conclusion would be weak.

IRRELEVANT – Shungite has nothing to do with the argument. Fullerenes just happened to be found in Shungite. There is no other role of Shungite in argument. Hence, INCORRECT.

2) Some fullerenes have also been found on the remains of a small meteorite that collided with a spacecraft.

IRRELEVANT – However, there would be some who would fall in this trap. The option says fullerenes have also been found on a small meteorite. So what? I am experimenting with the ones found on earth. Now if the options was, the fullerenes found of earth were from a meteorite, it would have weakened the argument. But that is not the case here. Hence, INCORRECT.

3) The mineral shungite itself contains large amounts of carbon, from which the fullerenes apparently formed.

IRRELEVANT – Shungite has nothing to do with the argument.

4) The naturally occurring fullerenes are arranged in a previously unknown crystalline structure

This will WEAKEN the argument. Here we get the sense that the naturally occurring fullerenes are different from the laboratory synthesised fullerenes. This would weaken the analogy in the argument.

5) Shungite itself is formed only under distinctive conditions.

IRRELEVANT – Shungite has nothing to do with the argument.

Answer – Option (4)

Question:Until now only injectable vaccines against influenza have been available. They have been primarily used by older adults who are at risk for complications from influenza. A new vaccine administered in a nasal spray form has proven effective in preventing influenza in children. Since children are significantly more likely than adults to contract and spread influenza, making the new vaccine widely available for children will greatly reduce the spread of influenza across the population.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?

Step 1 – Identifying the Argument:

1. Only injectable vaccines against influenza have been available, primarily used by older adults
2. A new vaccine administered in nasal form is effective in children
3. Children is more likely to contract and spread influenza
4. Therefore, the new vaccine will reduce the spread of influenza

Whenever one is replacing something with another thing, two things are important for it to work
A. It is as effective(or may be more effective)
B. People will accept the change

1) If a person receives both the nasal spray and the injectable vaccine, they do not interfere with each other.

IRRELEVANT – The argument does not talk about simultaneous usage of nasal spray & the injectable vaccine. Hence, INCORRECT.

2) The new vaccine uses the same mechanism to ward off influenza as injectable vaccines do.

RELEVANT – This option says that the mechanism used is the same, addressing the effectiveness of the new vaccine. But the argument states that the new vaccine is effective. So how much this option helps remains to be seen. Let us evaluate the other options and see if there is anything better they offer.

3) Government subsidies have kept the injectable vaccines affordable for adults.

IRRELEVANT – The argument is about usage of the nasal vaccine for children. Whether or not the injectable vaccine is affordable does nothing much to the argument. If it would have said that the injectable vaccine is much cheaper than the nasal spray, then one would have got the idea that may be people might not be willing to change – in that case, it would have weakened the argument. In any case, the question is asking us to choose an option which strengthens the argument, this option is INCORRECT

4) Of the older adults who contract influenza, relatively few contract it from children with influenza.

What this option is addressing is the premise – ‘Children is more likely to contract and spread influenza’. When it tries to attack this premise, it CANNOT strengthen the argument. Hence, INCORRECT.

5) Many parents would be more inclined to have their children vaccinated against influenza if it did not involve an injection.

RELEVANT: It strengthens the argument. If more parents are inclined to have their children vaccinated against influenza if it did not involve an injection, then they will use the nasal spray. They will be willing to accept the change! BEST ANSWER.

Answer – Option (5)

Unlike CR questions, in RC the passages are lengthy. However, the basics of logic remain the same. Next time you solve an inferential based question in CAT or XAT or any other MBA entrance test, remember to use logic. Apply the logic given in this article in the RC questions of Mock CATs that you have taken so far. With a little bit of practice you will be good at identifying the argument. You will get the hang of it in and RC in CAT will be a cake walk. All that you have to do is to keep your eyes open and identify the argument, don’t just plainly read the passage – involve yourself.

Still haven’t started your preparation for CAT ’17? Choose from our offerings here that suits you the most and get started!

]]>https://www.gpkafunda.com/the-secret-to-solving-inferential-questions/feed/116Four things you must never-ever do with an RC passagehttps://www.gpkafunda.com/four-things-never-do-with-rc-passage/
https://www.gpkafunda.com/four-things-never-do-with-rc-passage/#commentsMon, 17 Oct 2016 09:30:20 +0000http://careerlauncher.com/gpspeaks/?p=457In my previous article on RCs I discussed about How an RC Question is created. Getting an inisder’s perspective helps you understand what are the things that you should look at while solving an RC question in your CAT mocks.

Every time I see the question- ‘what is the main purpose of the passage?’ follow an RC passage, I’ve felt that there should be an option ‘to confuse the reader’! To ease out some of the confusion, and make your life easier here are 4 cardinal rules you must follow at all times.

Rule 1 : Never be a Lazy Bum

TThe most criminal thing you can do with an RC passage is to be lazy while reading it. For anything to work, you MUST understand the passage to the best of your ability. If that means reading the passage slowly, so be it! Focus on comprehension and not on reading. If you haven’t read it properly, you might as well not read it at all and save yourself time and negative marks.

Rule 2 : Never read the answer choices before you read the passage

You might want to read the question stems before you read the passage to figure out what is it that you have to look for when you read the passage. It is not necessary and I personally do not recommend it, but many find it convenient to have a quick look at the questions before reading the passage. But please DO NOT READ THE OPTIONS before you read the passage. That would set you up for a disaster. Three options are incorrect and you do not want to load yourself with incorrect information before reading a passage.

Look at these four options. Try reading the options first and then the passage and tell me if you are not confused.

Q. Which of the following conclusions can most properly be drawn, if the statements above are true, about a highly automated nuclear-missile defense system controlled by a complex computer program?

Within a century after its construction, the system would react inappropriately and might accidentally start a nuclear war.

It is not certain what the system’s response to the explosion of a large meteorite would be, if its designers did not plan for such a contingency.

The system would be destroyed if an explosion of a large meteorite occurred in the Earth’s atmosphere.

It would be impossible for the system to distinguish the explosion of a large meteorite from the explosion of a nuclear weapon.

PASSAGE: Meteorite explosions in the Earth’s atmosphere as large as the one that destroyed forests in Siberia, with approximately the force of a twelve-megaton nuclear blast, occur about once a century. The response of highly automated systems controlled by complex computer programs to unexpected circumstances is unpredictable.

Ok. Now that I have made my point, let me move on.

Rule 3: Never get stuck on a difficult word… simply move on

One of the biggest hurdles when it comes to RC is when you see an unfamiliar word. Trying to spend time on that word would only make things worse. Simply move on. Imagine watching a movie. It is not that you understand every single scene, but then you figure things out at the end.

Rule 4: Never think that the correct option would come from outside the passage

What is out of scope is never the answer. The right answer has to be completely based on the passage. If it is an inferential question, the answer is something that can be clearly inferred based on the passage. Any of the options that throw you off track are wrong options.

More on RCs and how to apply these rules in my next posts.

Still haven’t started your preparation for CAT ’17? Choose from our offerings here that suits you the most and get started!

RC passages are best fought like a war. You get into the mind of your opponent and from then on how to defeat him is only a matter of time. This is a tried and tested theory I subscribe to. Let me show you why!

We will think like the question setter and actually create an RC question.

MAKING OF AN RC

In the last article, I wrote about the 3 traps that an RC setter lays for you in the VRC section. With CAT 2016 expected to get neutral, in terms of difficulty, for candidates of different academic backgrounds, one can expect a slightly intriguing VRC section. Sure, developing a good reading habit would definitely go a long way in solving RCs, but even if you aren’t an avid reader, you can still ace this section with a fair amount of ease. Let me help you understand the mind of the question-setter better –

We will think like the question setter and actually create an RC question.

First is to get an article that we can use as the passage for our RC question. Here’s one that I picked from the net.

The Lokpal is a necessary but not a sufficient condition to fight corruption. Under the present anti-corruption systems in our country, there is not a single anti-corruption agency which is independent of the government control and, therefore, has the powers to independently investigate and prosecute the guilty. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has the powers, but not independent.

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has independence, but no powers. In short, the government has ensured there are enough loopholes in the laws to keep these anticorruption agencies ineffective. The people will be shocked to learn that under the Prevention of Corruption Act, even if a person is convicted, there is no provision to recover the losses he/she caused to the government or the money the person made through corrupt means. With such a toothless anti-corruption system, no wonder corruption has become a zero-risk, high-profit business in our country.

All that the proposed Jan Lokpal Bill will do is to ensure the certainty and swiftness of punishment in corruption cases. Next time any individual indulges in corruption, he should know he will be investigated, prosecuted, punished and will lose his job. According to the proposed Jan Lokpal Bill, the investigations into the cases have to be completed in two years so that the guilty is punished in a time-bound manner.

An ordinary person always faces demands for bribe to get his works done. The Lokpal will ensure justice for him and punishment for those who harass him. The proposed Bill has also taken care to ensure the selection process of the Lokpal and its functioning remains totally transparent. Strong measures of accountability have also been incorporated in the proposed Bill to guarantee the Lokpal itself does not become corrupt or undemocratic.

In addition to the Lokpal Bill, many more institutional reforms like electoral reforms, judicial reforms and decentralisation of political powers are needed to make the fight against corruption more effective. The India Against Corruption Movement will take up these issues one by one.

Let’s now create a question – What is the main purpose of the passage?

As a question-setter since all we have to do is to force the test-taker to choose the best option, our ‘correct answer’ need not be THE correct answer, it only has to be the best among the four. The sense that we get from the passage is that the current anti-corruption mechanism in the country is not effective, and a strong Lokpal Bill is necessary to fight against corruption. Since the author seems to be arguing his case, let us create the ‘best option’ as

BEST OPTION – ‘To argue a case for a strong Lokpal bill as a necessary thing to fight against corruption’

Now that we have got a ‘best option’, let us now create not so good ones. So as to set traps, we need to pick things from the passage and twist it around a bit. Let us make a LAZY TRAP. This is what we will take for the first not-so-good option ‘…no wonder corruption has become a zero-risk, high-profit business in our country.’ & ‘..the government has ensured there are enough loopholes in the laws to keep these anticorruption agencies ineffective.’

NOT-SO-GOOD OPTION 1 – That corruption in our country has become a high-profit business which is promoted by the government.

Now, for the second not-so-good option, let us set a DREAMER TRAP. Something that is not mentioned in the passage –

NOT-SO-GOOD OPTION 2 – To illustrate the point that Government is not serious about enacting a strong Lok Pal bill.

To create the last not-so-good option, let us create an intelligent sounding sentence which is beyond the scope of the passage. This trap is for both the DREAMERand the LAZY ONE.

NOT-SO-GOOD OPTION 3 – To critically analyse the root cause of corruption in the country and provide alternatives in combating the same.

So, there you have it, our question is ready with all the traps.

Q 1. What is the main purpose of the passage?

To illustrate the point that Government is not serious about enacting a strong Lok Pal bill.

To critically analyse the root cause of corruption in the country and provide alternatives in combating the same.

That corruption in our country has become a high-profit business which is promoted by the government.

To argue a case for a strong Lokpal bill as a necessary thing to fight against corruption

Let us now make an inferential question. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

First is to figure one thing that can be inferred from the passage so that we have the ‘best option’. ‘With such a toothless anti-corruption system, no wonder corruption has become a zero-risk, high-profit business in our country.’ & ‘Next time any individual indulges in corruption, he should know he will be investigated, prosecuted, punished and will lose his job.’

What can be inferred from the above is this à that people will avoid corruption if they know there is a high chance of getting punished.

Let’s create a nice sounding ‘best option’

BEST-OPTION: There is a negative correlation between people being corrupt and people being punished for corruption.

Now that we have a ‘best-option’, let us start setting traps. For the first not-so-good option, let us take one sentence from the passage, twist it around and trap the LAZY ONE. ‘The India Against Corruption Movement will take up these issues one by one.’

NOT-SO-GOOD OPTION 1: The best way to handle corruption is to take up issues one by one.

For the second not-so-good option, let us set a trap using these two statements – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has the powers, but not independent. The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has independence, but no powers. The author uses CVC & CBI to illustrate a point. There would be other anti-corruption agencies for which the author has not given information about their power or independence. Let us make a general inference

NOT-SO-GOOD OPTION 2: All the anti-corruption agencies in India have only one among the two attributes – power & independence.

For the last option, let us simply make it ‘ALL OF THE ABOVE’.

The question is now ready!

Q.2 Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

There is a negative correlation between people being corrupt and people being punished for corruption.

The best way to handle corruption is to take up issues one by one.

All the anti-corruption agencies in India have only one among the two attributes – power & independence.

All of the above

I guess we have now got into the mind of the question-setter and understood the logic behind RC questions.

Hope you got an idea of the traps and the next time you will be more careful. In case your accuracy in RC is low, identify the trap that you are falling into. Maybe you will outsmart the question-setter and use his trap to eliminate options. Like what Sherlock Holmes says ‘When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth’.

]]>https://www.gpkafunda.com/how-an-rc-question-is-created/feed/119The 3 traps an RC passage setter lays for you…https://www.gpkafunda.com/3-traps-rc-passage-setter-lays-for-you/
https://www.gpkafunda.com/3-traps-rc-passage-setter-lays-for-you/#commentsTue, 30 Aug 2016 05:30:10 +0000http://careerlauncher.com/gpspeaks/?p=477Solving an RC passage is all about getting into the mind of the paper-setter. After all what matters is the questions that follow the passage. More than what the author is trying to communicate; it is important what the question-setter is trying to ask!

With IIM-Bangalore conducting CAT 2016, there anyway is a speculation that VRC would be slightly more challenging than last year. While the previous blog on RCs, “The Art of Solving RC Passages” discusses a general methodology of cracking the section, in this blog let us introspect further.

Let us look at RC passages from the eyes of the question-setter – the question-setter’s logic

Step 1: Pick a RC passage

Step 2: Think of a few questions and come up with the best option for each

Step 3: Create the other 3 incorrect options for each of the question.

To make the question difficult, the paper setter will have to set traps for the test taker – you. While thinking of the traps, he is thinking of how each of one you will react to the question

When it comes to Reading Comprehension (RC) passages, CAT-takers fall in three broad categories:

LAZY BUM – This trap is for those who read the passage in a hurry, this is where you belong

DREAMER – If you end up bringing in things outside of what is mentioned in the passage, you’re a dreamer

LOST CASE – if you read the passage but have no clue what the passage was all about, welcome to this group

LAZY BUM: What if someone reads bits and pieces of a passage? If the paper setter creates an option from bits & pieces of the passage, then he’s trapped the lazy ones.

DREAMER: What if someone brings in things outside of what is mentioned in the passage? If the paper setter creates an option that sounds pretty logical but is not from the passage, then the dreamer is likely to fall for it.

LOST ONE: Setting a trap for these types is trap is the easiest of all. Put a passage that is difficult to comprehend!

Good news is that from a question-setter’s point of view, it is generally difficult to create difficult questions based on a difficult passage!

I know you CAT-ters never believe anything without proof so here’s an example for you. Let’s get into the mind of the paper-setter and identify the traps…

Foucault’s idea of an archaeology of thought is closely linked to the modernist literary idea that language is a source of thought in its own right, not merely an instrument for expressing the ideas of those who use it. Here, however, the project is not to open up, through transgression or withdrawal, a field for language itself to ‘speak’. Rather, Foucault begins with the fact that, at any given period in a given domain, there are substantial constraints on how people are able to think. Of course, there are always the formal constraints of grammar and logic, which exclude certain formulations as gibberish (meaningless) or illogical (self-contradictory). But what the archaeologist of thought is interested in is a further set of constraints that, for example, make it ‘unthinkable’ for centuries that heavenly bodies could move other than in circles or be made of earthly material. Such constraints seem foolish to us: why couldn’t they see that such things are at least possible? But Foucault’s idea is that every mode of thinking involves implicit rules (maybe not even formidable by those following them) that materially restrict the range of thought. If we can uncover these rules, we will be able to see how an apparently arbitrary constraint actually makes total sense in the framework defined by those rules. Moreover, he suggests that our own thinking too is governed by such rules, so that from the vantage point of the future it will look quite as arbitrary as the past does to us.

Foucault’s idea is that this level of analysis, of what is outside the control of the individuals who actually do the thinking in a given period, is the key to understanding the constraints within which people think. So the ‘history of ideas’ – where this means what is consciously going on in the minds of scientists, philosophers, et al. – is less important than the underlying structures that form the context for their thinking. We will not be so much interested in, say, Hume or Darwin as in what made Hume or Darwin possible. This is the root of Foucault’s famous ‘marginalization of the subject’. It is not that he denies the reality or even the supreme ethical importance of the individual consciousness. But he thinks that individuals operate in a conceptual environment that determines and limits them in ways of which they cannot be aware.

Q. Which of the following best describes the central theme of the passage?

(a) The primary purpose of archaeology of thought is to understand the constraints within which people think.

This is a LAZY TRAP. This is where it is picked from – “Foucault’s idea is that this level of analysis, of what is outside the control of the individuals who actually do the thinking in a given period, is the key to understanding the constraints within which people think.”

Look at the word ‘PRIMARY PURPOSE’ in the option. If that were true, logically that would mean everything else is secondary purpose, which is not the case.

(b) Archaeology of thought can justify what people thought in the past through understanding of the then prevalent constraints.

This is a DREAMER TRAP. Look at the word ‘CAN JUSTIFY’ ‘WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT’ in the option. If that were true, then it would suggest that the passage would basically be trying to give a justification of what people thought in the past, which is not the case.

(c) How people think is determined by certain constraints, which may look arbitrary in hindsight but are justified due to implied laws/rules involved in the thinking process.

Look at this option. This, to me, best captures the essence of the passage. BEST ANSWER.

(d) History of ideas is less important than the underlying context for thinking.

Again, this is a DREAMER TRAP.

Do you fall for these traps too? Tell me, or better still, come back to me with examples. In the next RC, set aside the lazy bums and the dreamer traps and find out the right option – it’s easy once you know what to look for.

More on how to tackle RC in my next posts. Write to me with any questions that you have and I will get back to you very soon.

He is Gejo (and yes that is his real name!). If you want to know his full name, purely for academic reasons, it is Gejo Sundarswamy Sreenivasan. Since it was getting too complicated, he stuck to Gejo Sreenivasan! Thankfully, the man is not as complicated as his name is.

An excellent dancer during his college days, he is now making students dance to CAT through his entertaining sessions. For the past 11 years he has been coaching and mentoring students for the CAT.

Gejo has done his Chemical Engineering from IIT Madras (Batch of 1997) and PGDM from IIM Calcutta (Batch of 1999). He is a core member of the CL-Mumbai family and has mentored thousands of successful students in the last few years.

I thought I should make a video presentation which captures all that I want to share about solving RC passages. Now that I got some free time, I have gone ahead and done that. This is a video presentation wherein I have tried to give insights into:

the art of solving reading comprehension passages

how to solve tough passages

Firstly, I used five short RC passages to help you understand the art of reading and skill of solving. Then, I used 2 long passages to see how those principles can be applied. Lastly, I used two really tough passages to see how we can handle/solve really tough RC passages. These two RC passages are probably the toughest ones that I have yet encountered,

It is an hour long presentation and I do hope that you will find it beneficial. Do share your views or queries – happy to help.

For a CAT prep institute, their Mock should be the former and not the latter. The CAT Mocks are the most important prep tool for your CAT. It can help you understand quite a lot of things: where do you stand, which areas you are good at, how to handle a particular section etc. Unless the institute makes a reasonable prediction based on logical assumptions, it cannot create a Mock CAT which imitates the skill-set tested in the CAT – both in terms of the difficulty level of the test and the composition of questions.

However, there are some easy escape routes:

1. Create a Mock that is consistently difficult & claim that we are preparing for the worst-case scenario

2. Randomly create Mock Tests of different difficulty level and hope that one of it hits the CAT difficulty level.

CL avoids both!

Our objective is to create Mocks that are as close to the CAT as possible. We, at CL, decided to be transparent and let our students know how we create a Proc Mock. Here’s a video wherein I explain the thought process behind CL Proc Mocks 2015.

Skimming is for those who know the subject. When I do not know much about philosophy, and the passage gives the cosmological argument of the First Cause, I will be lost in the cosmos if I skim. I read!

The key is to understand the Focus & the Idea.

2. I don’t select!

I eliminate options – since it is easier to eliminate the wrong answer rather than select the best answer.
Eliminate – Too Broad | Eliminate – Too Narrow | Eliminate – Aliens | Eliminate – Extremes
Let us see how this works by taking an example.

Example:

I have often had an occasion to remark the fortitude with which women sustain the most overwhelming reverses of fortune. Those disasters which break down the spirit of a man, and prostrate him in the dust, seem to call forth all the energies of the softer sex, and give such intrepidity and elevation to their character, that at times it approaches to sublimity. Nothing can be more touching, than to behold a soft and tender female, who had been all weakness and dependence, and alive to every trivial roughness, while threading the prosperous paths of life, suddenly rising in mental force to be the comforter and support of her husband under misfortune, and abiding with unshrinking firmness the bitterest blasts of adversity.

Q. Which of the following statements presents the main idea of the paragraph?

a) Women are courageous in times of misfortune and weak in times of fortune.

b) The author believes that the weakest of the females can be the source of strength when the occasion calls for it.

c) The author is amazed that the character of a woman can be altered by her circumstances.

d) Women often provide support and strength to their men folk in times of misfortune.

STEP 1

Focus: Focus on the key elements in the passage

I have often had an occasion to remark the fortitude with which women sustainthe most overwhelming reverses of fortune. Those disasterswhichbreak down the spirit of a man,and prostrate him in the dust, seem to call forth all the energies of the softer sex, and give such intrepidity and elevation to their character, that at times it approaches to sublimity. Nothing can be more touching, than to behold a soft and tender female, who had been all weakness and dependence, and alive to every trivial roughness, while threading the prosperous paths of life, suddenly rising in mental force to be the comforter and support of her husband under misfortune,and abiding with unshrinking firmness the bitterest blasts of adversity.

Idea – Women sustain reverses of fortune… Men break down… Women support and comfort her husband during such a time.

STEP 2

Eliminate Options: Once we understand the idea, let us look at the option

a) Women are courageous in times of misfortune and weak in times of fortune.ALIEN – The passage is not comparing women’s courageousness in the times of fortune as compared to the times of misfortune. ELIMINATE

b) The author believes that the weakest of the females can be the source of strength when the occasion calls for it.
Two problems!
The author believes that the weakest (EXTREME) of the females can be the source of strength when the occasion calls for it (BROAD).

The passage talks about a specific situation of misfortune – not any occasion. ELIMINATE

c) The author is amazed that the character of a woman can be altered by her circumstances.BROAD – …………. can be altered by her circumstances. [Which circumstances?]

d) Women often provide support and strength to their men folk in times of misfortune.BEST ANSWER – rest were eliminated.

We find all critical elements in that option.Women often provide support and strength to their men folk in times of misfortune.

Happy ‘BANE’ing

Gejo

]]>https://www.gpkafunda.com/4-ways-to-eliminate-options-in-rc/feed/93CET GANGNAM STYLEhttps://www.gpkafunda.com/cet-gangnam-style/
https://www.gpkafunda.com/cet-gangnam-style/#commentsSat, 01 Feb 2014 14:26:04 +0000https://www.gpkafunda.com/?p=2300To set the record straight, the title only suggests that attempting the CET is like riding a horse – 200 questions in 150 minutes. It is like no other test. Though CET questions may be of much lower difficulty level than CAT, it is still a major challenge for even the best – doing well in CET requires one to be extremely alert and agile.

The Basics

The DTE, Maharashtra has mentioned that CET ‘14 is going to be online and its pattern is to be on the lines of the previous CET.

200 questions spread across Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning jumbled up together without any defined sections. So, you may find one question on Profit & Loss, followed by an RC passage and then a question on Syllogisms. Please read on!

The good news is that there is no negative marking in CET. However, you still have to solve a considerable number of questions to get a score of 140+. Do remember to mark every question since there is no negative marking.

Let us now understand the broad pattern of the test.

Quantitative Ability – Approx 50 questions

Problem Solving – around 20–25 questions

Data Interpretation – around 20 questions

Data Sufficiency – around 5-10 questions

Verbal Ability – Approx 50 questions

Reading Comprehension – around 15-20 questions

Grammar based questions – around 10-15 questions

Vocabulary based questions – around 10-15 questions

Parajumbles – around 5-10 questions

Logical Reasoning – Approx 100 questions

Analytical Reasoning – around 40 – 45 questions

Verbal Reasoning – around 40 – 45 questions

Visual Reasoning – around 30 questions

Topic-wise Details

Problem Solving: Most of these questions would be very basic. You would typically find a significant number of questions from topics like BODMAS, Approximations and Arithmetic. So, if you are starting your preparation today, then these should be the topics that you focus on first. In case you have already prepared for CAT, you will not face any problems in this section.

You must aim to attempt almost every question from this section.

Data Interpretation: In the CET, you will find all sorts of data sets–tables, pie-charts, line-graphs, etc. You would need to use your ‘approximation skills’ to handle these questions.

This again is a must do area and you must aim to attempt almost every question from this section as well.

Data Sufficiency: This section can be rather tricky. It will pose questions that are seemingly very easy but will trap you with the confusing options.

Consider this question:

Is n an integer?

(1) √n is a natural number

(2) n2 is a natural number

And the right answer is: Statement (1) is sufficient to answer the given question while Statement (2) is not.

Reading Comprehension: You will typically find a large passage with lots of questions – most of them being direct ones. This is an area where you should not use guesswork.

Grammar based questions: These questions test your knowledge of basic grammar. Relying solely on ‘gut-feel’ to answer questions on grammar will not be sufficient to score well in this section. Also, 30 days may notbe enough to make a dramatic improvement in this area. Be prudent and focus your preparation on other areas.

Vocabulary based questions: Either you know the answer or you don’t – that’s the story of this type of questions. You cannot wake up today and master the entire word-list. So, just hope that your reading habits will prove useful in this area.

Analytical Reasoning: You will encounter a plethora of questions from this section. These questions will be based on:

Arrangements & Grouping

Series and Sequence

Blood relations

Coding-decoding

Input-Output questions

Practice, practice and practice – through sustained practice, you will be able to handle these types of questions effectively. Beware of ‘speed-breakers’, especially in questions on sequences and series. If you are able to crack the logic in less than 30 seconds, mark the answer else, ‘guess’ and move on.

Consider the following series:

24, 81, 63, 26, 41, 28, 25, __

You won’t be able to crack it in less than 30 seconds. By the way the logic is 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128…. Did you get it? If not, don’t sweat.

Verbal Reasoning: Another must attempt area – you can get high accuracy in these types of questions, provided you have sufficient practice. Questions in this section will be based on:

Syllogisms

Statement Assumptions

Statement Conclusions

Strong-Weak Arguments

Course of Action

Cause and Effect

Critical Reasoning

Understand the basics of each of these types of questions and you will be safe. Further, do note that you can achieve very high accuracy in these questions

Visual Reasoning: CET is probably the only MBA entrance test that tests your visual reasoning skills also. This section is usually challenging. Out of the 30 questions from this area, if you are able to solve more than 60% of the questions correctly then it will be considered a very good attempt. However, please note that questions from this portion use a variety of logic – including counting, rotation, symmetry, and geometry. Practicing as many questions as possible is the only way to improve in this section.

The Broad Strategy:

A score of 140+ should be your target. In 150 minutes, try and solve 150 questions and ‘guess – mark’ the remaining 50. Probability suggests that you will get 10 out of these 50 guessed questions correct. The challenge is to get 130 questions correct out of 150.

Thus, both speed and accuracy are essential to do well in the CET.

CL provides 15 CET mocks. Solve each of them, learn from them and practice.